SAUSAGE-SELLER. "Son of Aegeus,[120] beware of the tricks of the dog-fox,[121] he bites from the rear and rushes off at full speed; he is nothing but cunning and perfidy." Do you know what the oracle intends to say? DEMOS. The dog-fox is Philostratus.[122] SAUSAGE-SELLER. No, no, 'tis Cleon; he is incessantly asking you for light vessels to go and collect the tributes, and Apollo advises you not to grant them. DEMOS. What connection is there between a galley and a dog-fox? SAUSAGE-SELLER. What connection? Why, 'tis quite plain--a galley travels as fast as a dog. DEMOS. Why, then, does the oracle not say dog instead of dog-fox? SAUSAGE-SELLER. Because he compares the soldiers to young foxes, who, like them, eat the grapes in the fields. DEMOS. Good! Well then! how am I to pay the wages of my young foxes? SAUSAGE-SELLER. I will undertake that, and in three days too! But listen to this further oracle, by which Apollo puts you on your guard against the snares of the greedy fist. DEMOS. Of what greedy fist? SAUSAGE-SELLER. The god in this oracle very clearly points to the hand of Cleon, who incessantly holds his out, saying, "Fill it." CLEON. 'Tis false! Phoebus means the hand of Diopithes.[123] But here I have a winged oracle, which promises you shall become an eagle and rule over all the earth. SAUSAGE-SELLER. I have one, which says that you shall be King of the Earth and of the Sea, and that you shall administer justice in Ecbatana, eating fine rich stews the while. CLEON. I have seen Athené[124] in a dream, pouring out full vials of riches and health over the people. SAUSAGE-SELLER. I too have seen the goddess, descending from the Acropolis with an owl perched upon her helmet; on your head she was pouring out ambrosia, on that of Cleon garlic pickle. DEMOS. Truly Glanis is the wisest of men. I shall yield myself to you; guide me in my old age and educate me anew. CLEON. Ah! I adjure you! not yet; wait a little; I will promise to distribute barley every day. DEMOS. Ah! I will not hear another word about barley; you have cheated me too often already, both you and Theophanes.[125] CLEON. Well then! you shall have flour-cakes all piping hot. SAUSAGE-SELLER. I will give you cakes too, and nice cooked fish; you will only have to eat. DEMOS. Very well, mind you keep your promises. To whichever of you twain shall treat me best I hand over the reins of state. CLEON. I will be first. SAUSAGE-SELLER. No, no, _I_ will. CHORUS. Demos, you are our all-powerful sovereign lord; all tremble before you, yet you are led by the nose. You love to be flattered and fooled; you listen to the orators with gaping mouth and your mind is led astray. DEMOS. 'Tis rather you who have no brains, if you think me so foolish as all that; it is with a purpose that I play this idiot's role, for I love to drink the lifelong day, and so it pleases me to keep a thief for my minister. When he has thoroughly gorged himself, then I overthrow and crush him.